(1) The Phoenix (D. Salvatore)

Chapter Ninety-Three

Daphne hums away to herself as she makes her way up the steps towards Alaric's apartment, she thought she'd try it the nice normal way so as not to just pop in on him, but considering what's going on, she doesn't want to appear in the middle of him having a bad Alaric meltdown. Plus this way, Damon can hear her coming and pre-warn her if need be. But he hasn't, so she assumes that means that she is safe to enter. She waves her hand over the door handle as she reaches the right one and the door swings open. Damon is standing across the room, looking out the apartment window. He turns and gives her an amused look.

"That was locked" Damon points out, she smirks and shrugs.

"It's almost as if I have magic" She teases as she closes the door behind her with a simple wave of her hand. He smiles and shakes his head. "I have breakfast" She offers as she sets the tray of coffee on the table along with the bag of pastries. Damon takes a cup from the try and touches her back as he passes. "How is he?" She asks, he pulls a face and takes a drink from the cup. "Did anything...?"

"Your spell and herbs worked" He assures her. "Slept like a baby, woke up Alaric. No killer instincts about dead Council members, though I do hate that I had to leave my nice warm bed where a nice warm redhead was sleeping to come babysit him" She hums and nods.

"Yeah, that is a shame" She glances at him. "I had such plans" She teases, touching the edge of his jacket. "Our own way of celebrating that fuck you win" He chuckles and leans closer to press his forehead to hers. That does sound like so much more fun than what he ended up doing. Taking a watch shift on Alaric wasn't as fun as whatever Daphne had planned for them. "You know" She starts. "There is this book I found at the back of the library at school...." He frowns a little and pulls back to look at her. Not sure why she is bringing up books. "Kinda like a magical Karma Sutra"

"Oh," He smirks and tugs her closer to him. "See something you like?"

"A few things I can remember being interested in trying" She answers. Behind them, Alaric leans in the doorway of his bathroom watching the two of them. He pulls a face.

"Whilst it is great you've both...." Alaric starts and then motions with his hands. "Can you save this for somewhere that is not my apartment?" Damon smirks as he pulls back from Daphne who bites her lip. She then turns to him.

"Are you hungry?" She asks as she picks up the pastry bag.

"No, thanks, but I don't think I can eat anything" Alaric gives her a small thankful smile before moving to drop onto the couch. Damon takes the bag from Daphne and opens it up, reaching in to take a muffin from inside.

"Ooo, chocolate muffins. You know what they say; a way to a psycho killer's heart is through his stomach" Alaric shoots him a look as Daphne hums watching Damon bite into the muffin. He winks at Daphne who shakes her head, turning to Alaric.

"Damon said you stayed 'you' all night"

"Yeah, so far so good" Alaric agrees. "Thanks....for what you did"

"Magic's got to be good for something, right?" She asks and then takes the bag back from Damon. He gives her a look as she sets it down on the table. "Try to eat something...bet those herbs aren't tasty" Alaric hums in agreement but leans back on the couch. He doesn't feel up to stomaching food right now. Those herbs have done something fierce to his insides. The door opens as Stefan lets himself into the apartment, carrying a mitre saw box under his arm. He glances around the apartment, raising an eyebrow. Daphne knows what he is looking for. Who he is looking for.

"No Elena?" Stefan checks as he closes the door, Daphne shakes her head.

"She wanted to come but I managed to get her to stay away" She explains as she looks over the Wickery Bridge sign leant against the side of the couch.

"How'd you manage that?" Stefan asks. She shrugs.

"Shopping" She answers with a smirk. "She thinks I need ingredients for a spell" Damon snorts.

"And she believes she can get all that at the corner shop?" He asks her.

"Herbalist" She counters and sits on the arm of the chair. "There's one just outside of town..." She smirks a little and shrugs. "You two still haven't 'talked' yet?" Stefan gives her a look.

"I'd rather deal with the Originals" He argues and moves to set the box down.

"Awww, that's cute" She teases slightly. "You chickened out"

"Okay" He stops her, turning to face her as she smirks at him. "Can we not do this here?" He makes a point of looking at Damon and then Alaric, Daphne frowns slightly.

"Pretty sure they both know you dated and broke up with Elena...but sure, whatever..." She shrugs and slips off the chair to move toward Damon. "I'm going to check on Elena, make sure she hasn't bought belladonna or something....I'll bring lunch later" Damon winks at her and kisses her softly before she apparates away. Damon turns to find both Alaric and Stefan are watching him amused. Damon rolls his eyes because he knows he is soft with her. He knows he is. And he honestly doesn't care. It's taken him many, many, many years to feel this way about someone. He thought Katherine was it for him, he thought what he felt for her was....love, it was so far from it. He is now realising how much he didn't love Katherine.